Reviewed by Steve Hayes

Here's the lowdown for those who haven't heard of Sway, the UK rapper. In 2004, Sway took Best Newcomer award at the Urban Music Awards and the Best Hip-Hop award in 2005, winning the award despite being a relative newcomer. Starting off by releasing mix tapes, 2006 saw Sway release 'This Is My Demo', selected as one of the Mercury Prize albums of the year. In 2007, Sway was awarded a coveted BET Award. Many high-profile collabs and global opportunities later, Sway has released 'The Signature LP'. Let's be clear, as the previous album review stated, this is not a Christian album - there is a parental advisory warning and a confusing mix of spiritual beliefs. Nevertheless, the album reaches beyond the usual limited mix of guns, gangs and women. Sway enters the stage with two big tracks, "Fit For A King" and the crowd-friendly, "Say It Twice." The collab with Lemar is the banging "Saturday Night Hustle". Another quality guest is Akon who is in fine form on "Silver And Gold". Sway brings a humour-filled grime roller with the liquid-voiced $tush in "F Ur X" (as in 'forget'). Throughout, Sway explores his life (with live instrumentation in "End Of The Road"), his losses and heartache, with the moving "Pray 4 Kaya" and powerful "Letters To Heaven" with a 22 piece orchestra adding soul to Sway's emotional flow. The project is an excellent musical mix with dynamic flows from Sway and includes a DVD with music videos and Sway discussing his project.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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